Agronomical use as baby leaf salad of Silene vulgaris based on morphological, biochemical and molecular traits

Abstract

In this study, the genetic variability of 14 accessions of bladder campion (Silene vulgaris), collected from different parts of Spain, were evaluated by molecular, morphological, agronomical and biochemical analysis. Molecular analysis was carried out using the ISSR technique with 10 primers, producing a total of 125 DNA bands, 80 of which were polymorphic among the accessions. A dendrogram drawn on the basis of a similarity matrix using the UPGMA algorithm revealed that the 70 samples of bladder campion plants could be classified into two major clusters at a Jaccard's genetic similarity index of 0.25, confirming that genetic variation was very high among and within accessions. An analysis of the morphological, agronomical and biochemical traits was a less efficient way of grouping the accessions due to the high inter-population variability observed for the analyzed traits used. Some accessions showed a very high level of nutritional compounds (glutathione, total phenols, and antioxidant capacity) and morphological characteristics, which, taken together, makes them attractive candidates for consumption as a ready-to-eat product. However, high concentrations of some anti-nutritional compounds (nitrates and oxalates) were found in some accessions. The results show sufficient variation exists in the desired traits within and among accessions in the germplasm to pursue a breeding programme to develop S. vulgaris cultivars as a high quality, minimally processed product.